Looking better in Long Run for Cheltenham Gold Cup

Connections are keen for Long Run to be fully focussed in the closing stages of the blue riband and decided to school him in the headgear as an experiment.

Lining up to regain his crown in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Long Run looks set to don cheekpieces for the first time in public when he appears in the Cheltenham Festival later this month.

The eight-year-old, accredited Timeform weight-adjusted rating of 184, won the Festival feature in 2011 but endured a disappointing campaign last term, being beaten twice by Kauto Star before having to settle for third behind Synchronised in the Cheltenham Festival Gold Cup.

Trainer Nicky Henderson looks to have brought him back to top form this season, with Long Run landing a second King George title on Boxing Day.

However, connections are keen for Long Run to be fully focussed in the closing stages of the blue riband and decided to school him in the headgear as an experiment this morning.

After watching him school alongside with Queen Mother Champion Chase favourite Sprinter Sacre, owner Robert Waley-Cohen believes the application of cheekpieces on March 15 is likely.

He said: "Everything went fine, as well as we could have hoped.

"Barry Geraghty schooled Sprinter Sacre, Sam (Waley-Cohen, jockey) followed him on Long Run and everything looked good.

"We don't have to declare (the cheekpieces) until declaration time but, as it is now, I would say he will most probably wear them in the Gold Cup."

Long Run can be backed @ Cheltenham Festival Betting odds of (7.80) for the Gold Cup, with stablemate Bobs Worth currently heading the market @(4.20).